Finnish Centre for Laboratory Animal Pathology (FCLAP): Provision of Technical Services and Veterinary Pathology Expertise

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1 Finnish Centre for Laboratory Animal Pathology (FCLAP): Provision of Technical Services and Veterinary Pathology Expertise Anja Kipar, Dr.med.vet.habil. DiplECVP MRCVS Professor of Veterinary Pathology, University of Helsinki and University of Liverpool, UK

2 FCLAP, what is it? - Core research and service facility at the University of Helsinki - Established in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in close collaboration with the Laboratory Animal Centre, with financial support from "FinnMouse (Biocenter Finland Model Organisms network) Established to Provide technical services and expertise to researchers at the University of Helsinki and outside clients who undertake laboratory animal work and wish to include, for example, morphological studies to assess animals for pathological changes, specific phenotypical features and the expression and distribution of specific antigens.

3 FCLAP, who is it? Histology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - 3 technicians (2.6 FTE) experienced in a range of relevant techniques Veterinary Pathology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Head of FCLAP: Anja Kipar - 4 senior pathologists with specific areas of expertise (organ systems, species, techniques) - Currently 2 trainees (residents; one FCLAP supported)

4 FCLAP, where is it? Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Viikki Campus - Veterinary Medicine building

5 Aims - Foster interdisciplinary research for optimal use of laboratory/experimental animals; - Provide veterinary pathology expertise for research projects involving animal work (on collaborative and service basis); - Provide a timely and cost-effective technical service and expertise in relevant, generic areas of laboratory/experimental animal morphology and pathology; - Train veterinary pathologists with laboratory animal expertise to meet the needs of the Finnish scientific community; - Train researchers in basic techniques to allow optimal in situ studies on experimental animals.

6 Technical Services Routine procedures - Trimming, processing and paraffin embedding of tissue specimens for histology, immunohistology (IH) and in situ hybridisation (ISH) - Preparation of stained sections (HE, range of special stains) - Preparation of unstained sections for IH and ISH - Immunohistology (leukocyte markers, range of specific markers) - Preparation of frozen sections, subsequent staining and IH Specific procedures - Testing of new antibodies for their use in IH - Preparation of cell pellets from tissue cultures (for light and electron microscopy, IH) - Processing of tissue specimens for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (through Institute of Biotechnology and other collaborations) - Clinical pathology and haematology (selected routine tests; new test development, establishment and application) - Phenotypic embryonic lethal test preparation (available through collaboration)

7 Technical and Pathology Services Work Flow Submission of - Fresh carcases - Formalin fixed carcases - Fixed tissues in cassettes in formalin - Fixed tissue sections in formalin - Paraffin blocks from previous experiments - Sections from previous experiments: stained and/or unstained - Cytological specimens - Cell pellets - Antibodies for immunohistology testing - Fixed tissues for TEM Provision of - Full necropsy report - Histopathology report on range of organs or selected organs - Cytology report, evaluation of cell pellets - Stained and unstained sections - Paraffin blocks - Report on suitability of antibody for immunohistology (and expression pattern) - Immunohistology stains and examination/interpretation - Preparation and examination/interpretation of specimens for TEM

8 Technical Services Work Flow: Submission of carcases Open abdominal and thoracic cavity (and skull) for optimal fixation! Formalin >> tissue! Partial necropsy Submission of fresh, euthanised mice: - Necropsy, histological examination and potential further tests undertaken by pathologists - Optimal for diagnostic purposes (i.e. spontaneous deaths) - Appropriate for initial (screening) experiments Submission of formalin-fixed mice: - Optimal for examination of animals of which blood/organs/tissue samples have been collected for other tests - For screening purposes: necropsy and histological examination by pathologist - Selected organ sampling for histology as appropriate; other organs available if needed - Diagnostic examination of animals from containment facilities

9 Technical Services Work Flow: Submission of organ specimens Formalin >> tissue! Cassettes in formalin Submission of fixed tissues: Trimming by FCLAP technicians, paraffin embedding, options: - Provision of paraffin blocks to researcher - Provision of tissue sections (stained, unstained) to researcher - Histological evaluation of stained sections by pathologist Submission of fixed tissue sections in cassettes: - Use of cassettes provided by FCLAP - Paraffin embedding and options as for fixed tissues - Optimal for studies in which only selected organs are of interest and when parts of the organs are used for other tests

10 Technical Services Work Flow: Submission of paraffin blocks or slides Unstained sections Partial necropsy Submission of paraffin block: - Preparation of stained and unstained sections - Histological evaluation by pathologist - Optimal when material from previous study is available (i.e. for initial tests) Stained sections Submission of stained or unstained sections: - Preparation of HE and/or special stains - Histological evaluation by pathologist

11 Expert Pathology Services - Disease monitoring in animal cohorts - Assessment of morphological changes from a wide range of experiments - Morphological assessment of organs in the development of new experimental protocols - Specific, applied phenotyping of genetically engineered mice - Necropsy and tissue/sample collection - Screening and evaluation of antibodies for immunohistology - Evaluation of ISH Full charging for pathologists time. - Assistance with experimental design.

12 Clinical Chemistry and Haematology Clinical chemistry (Konelab 30i) Basic tests: ALAT Albumin (BCG) AP ASAT Bilirubin Calcium Cholesterol Creatine kinase Creatinine GT Glucose K, Na, Cl Magnesium Pi Total protein Triglycerides Urea Special tests: Bile acids FFA (NEFA) Fructosamine 3-hydroxy butyrate Offered by: Central Laboratory, Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine Haematology (ADVIA 2120i) For different animal species: Complete blood cell count (CBC) CBC+differential

13 Collaborative Research - Involvement of pathologists in interdisciplinary research (immediate expert input) [experimental approach and protocols, histological assessment, interpretation, further in situ tests etc.] - Collaborative research projects as training material for postgraduate students (residents) in pathology - Optimal use of experimental animals (3Rs) No charges for pathologists time with authorship.

14 Some examples: FCLAP: Collaborative Research Olli Vapalahti and colleagues (Viral Zoonoses Research Group), Haartman Institute and Fac. Vet. Med., Helsinki 1) Intracerebral BDV infection of bank voles: Involvement of pathologist at late stage - Histological evaluation, interpretation of immunohistological stains 1) Experimental TBEV infection of bank voles: Involvement of pathologist at early stage - Planning and coordination of experiments - Pathological assessment, establishment and selection of in situ and molecular approaches Kinnunen et al., PLoSOne 6(8):e23622.

15 Collaborative Research Some examples: Vincenzo Cerrulo and colleagues (Cancer Gene Therapy Group), Fac. of Medicine and Fac. Vet. Med., Helsinki 1) Oncolytic adenoviruses - Histological evaluation, interpretation of immunohistological stains Cerrulo et al., Mol Therapy (submitted). - Collaborative project to compare the effect of hepatopathic viruses and drug induced liver injury with regard to inflammatory response and regeneration (with Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool)

16 Range of species - Wide range of species - Focus on laboratory rodents Vertebrates Because, after all, we are vets! - Fish - Amphibians - Reptiles - Avian - Marsupialia - Mammals - Protozoan and metazoan parasites - Bacteria, fungi - Viruses

17 Contribution to Research Programmes/Projects Research groups (University of Helsinki) - Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Akseli Hemminki and colleagues [Animal models for oncolytic virus therapy] - Minna Nyström Group, Department of Biosciences [Epigenetic alterations involved in colorectal cancer susceptibility] - Viral Zoonoses Research Group, Dept of Virology, Haartman Institute and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine [Experimental rodent models of BDV and TBEV infection] - The Vihko Group, Institute of Clinical Medicine [PAP-/- mouse model] - Seppo Meri and Tobias Freitag, Dept of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute [Immunopathogenesis of human narcolepsy/cataplexy]

18 Provision of Training for the Finnish research community Postgraduate training of veterinary pathologists ECVP-registered residency training programme, Specialty: Laboratory Animal Pathology - 3-year residency in preparation for the globally recognised certifying examination of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists (ECVP) - Provided by Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (programme director: Pernilla Syrjä) - Laboratory animal component through FCLAP research projects and targeted training courses - Aim: consistent flow of one trainee

19 Provision of Training for the Finnish research community Training Courses, University of Helsinki Laboratory Animal Necropsy or: How to get the most out of your mouse or rat? - Two courses: February and April 2011 [more than 60 participants] - Course Leader: Giovanni Pellegrini - Programme: Introduction General Techniques The Necropsy, Theory and Practice [incl. full mouse necropsy!] Post-Necropsy Procedures

20 Provision of Training for the Finnish research community Training Courses, University of Helsinki Laboratory Animal Necropsy or: How to get the most out of your mouse or rat? Further courses planned: - Two courses: February and April 2011 [more than 60 participants]! Autumn 2012 or spring Course Leader: Giovanni Pellegrini - Programme: With Introduction expression of interest: Course General can Techniques be organised at earlier time point. Minimal The Necropsy, group size: Theory 10 and participants. Practice [incl. full mouse necropsy!] Post-Necropsy Procedures Practical sessions: max. 15 participants.

21 23 rd Congress, European Society of Pathology, Helsinki, 2011: Special Session Pathologists and Animal Model Research Speakers: FCLAP and the wider scientific community... Akseli Hemminki, University of Helsinki: Animal models for oncolytic virus treatment Christiane Herden, University of Giessen, Germany: Animal models of Borna Disease Anja Kipar, University of Helsinki: Modelling of animal models of APAP induced liver injury Gail Leeming, University of Liverpool, UK: Gammaherpesvirus infections in natural host and laboratory mice Sari Mäkelä, University of Turku: Modelling hormonal cancer in laboratory rodents Irma Thesleff, University of Helsinki: Mouse models for ectodermal dysplasia

22 FCLAP: How to contact us Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: Histology Necropsy Laboratory Animal Centre: Tuberculosis, field vole - Information - Submission forms - Charges FeHV-1 infection, trachea, cat For submission and enquiry, fclap-info@helsinki.fi ISH TEM Double staining MHV-68 trna, ln., wood mouse CCSP Ag + splunc RNA in Clara cells, C57Bl6 A. phaocytophilum, tick cell